09.02.2011 Cookbook Review & A Giveaway: Clean Start

It’s a good thing I made the public resolution to eat healthier this year, because it gives me the awesome opportunity to also publicly admit that so far, were this endeavor a pie chart, it would be comprised of the following lip-smacking slices: 23% Woo!, 20% M’okay…, 13% Undecided, and 44% Downright Failure.

But I still have approximately 10 months to make it happen, along with some help in the form of a book: Terry Walters‘ publisher emailed to see if I would review her latest cookbook, Clean Start. Fond memories of her brilliant first opus have me hope that it was just the kick in the pants I needed to start making better food choices.

When I cracked the book open, I found out that not only are the pictures alone making the book worthy of being laid out on the coffee table for constant retina-pleasing perusal, but the recipes themselves look simply succulent and healthy, and should turn the most reluctant cook out there into a knife-wielding, onion-chopping and vegetable stew a-simmerin’ maestro. Or maestra, depending on … well, you know.

With all of the offerings being completely gluten-free and vegan, I had a tough time selecting what to test out and post here. I didn’t want to choose something in the realm of desserts, which is sort of a shocker, I know.

Torn between Red Lentil Soup with Turnips and Parsley, Tempeh with Apricots and Capers, Green Fries, Veggie Kebabs with Smokey Barbecue Sauce, and so many others, I finally settled for something both Chaz and I are fond of: split pea soup. But not just any split pea soup – Creamy Split Pea Soup with Meyer Lemon Zest and Thyme. Uh-huh.

I love that it doesn’t contain anything reminiscent of bacon and still manages to hit the high notes and the right spots the way a truly good split pea soup should. This one sure is a keeper and if it proves to be any indication of how the rest of the recipes will turn out, I might just find myself making all of the 99 other ones the book contains before the year is over, and therefore improving my track record of resolution stick-to-iness.

Good news for you: Sterling Publishing offers a copy of this book to a US reader who will be randomly picked. Leave a comment here before Monday 14 at midnight (PST), and may luck be an apron-wearing lady tonight. Next Monday night, whatever.
The winner is Barbara Usher! Thanks for playing.

Creamy Split Pea Soup with Meyer Lemon Zest and Thyme:
Recipe from Clean Start, by Terry Walters
Used with kind permission of the publisher

1 large onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons mirin
Sea salt
White pepper
3 cups green split peas
10 cups vegetable stock
1 Meyer lemon (zest and juice)

In soup pot or large Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté onion and celery in oil until soft (about 4 minutes).
Add thyme and mirin, season generously with salt and white pepper, and sauté 2 minutes longer.

Rinse split peas and add to pot with sautéed vegetables. Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 2 1/2 hours or until peas are soft and soup is thick.
If peas don’t fall apart completely, purée with handheld blender until smooth.
Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with lemon zest and serve.

Yield: 6 servings